Specified Skilled Worker

‘Specified Skilled Worker’ is a new residency status that was introduced by the Government of Japan in April 2019, under which aspiring Indian youth can take up a job and stay in Japan. Japan introduced ‘Specified Skilled Worker’ to address the severe labor shortages in Japan by accepting foreign human resources with specific expertise and skills. As of July 2022, Japan has signed SSW Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) with 15 nations including India. India and Japan signed a Memorandum of Cooperation in January 2021 for the implementation of ‘Specified Skilled Worker’ between India and Japan.

Key Features of SSW

Applicable specific sectors An aspiring SSW candidate can participate in the SSW program through 12 sectors specified by the Government of Japan. These sectors are: Nursing care, Building cleaning management, Machine parts & tooling/ Industrial machinery/ Electric, electronics & information Industries, Construction industry, Shipbuilding and ship machinery industry, Automobile repair and maintenance, Aviation industry, Accommodation industry, Agriculture, Fishery & aquaculture, Manufacture of food and beverages, Food service industry.
Period of stay Currently up to 5 years in total. Accompaniment of family members isn’t permitted.
Target SegmentAccepts foreign nationals (18 years old or above) with considerable degree of knowledge or experience belonging to a specific sector.
Japanese language level required Proficiency in Japanese language required in daily life and at the workplace needs to be confirmed by Japanese language exams. Those who have completed three years in Technical Intern Training are exempted from the exams.
Skill standards requiredThe skill level is confirmed by sector-specific skill exams. Those who have completed three years in Technical Intern Training in the same sector are exempted from exams. For more information.

Benefits

Financial benefit of attractive compensation (compliant with minimum wages, Japan).
Exposure to Japanese work culture, quality management and innovation techniques.
Experience the working conditions in Japan

Our Role

Selection of Supervising Organization.
Enrolment of suitable candidates and completion of their Pre-Departure Training in India.
Selection of candidates by Supervising Organization/ Implementing Organization for undergoing SSW in Japan.
Completion of documentation for candidates’ entry in Japan.
Coordination with Supervising Organization and Implementing Organization

Job categories for which Indocosmo provides training are:

Agriculture (Currently Hiring)
Nursing care
Machine parts & tooling/ Industrial machinery/ Electric, electronics & information Industries
Accommodation industry
Manufacture of food and beverages, Food service industry.

SSW Test Information

Japanese language test for Basic Japanese (JFT-Basic)

JFT-Basic seeks to measure the level of Japanese language proficiency needed by foreign nationals about to reside in Japan mainly for work, to communicate in everyday life situations. It tests the Japanese language proficiency of a candidate across four sections:

Script & vocabulary,
Conversation & expression,
Listening comprehension, and
Reading comprehension.

*For all the SSW sectors, the candidate must either pass the N4 (or above) level of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) or the A2 (or above) level of the Japan Foundation test for Basic Japanese (JFT-Basic).

Agriculture SSW domain test

Agriculture Skill Assessment Test (general crop farming)
- Subjects and practical questions related to the skills of general crop farming
- Listening questions on farming work contents instructed in Japanese
Agriculture Skill Assessment Test (general livestock farming)
- Subjects and practical questions related to the skills of general livestock farming
- Listening questions on farming work contents instructed in Japanese

Specified Skilled Worker (SSW)